一字一珠 yī zì yī zhū Each word a pearl

Explanation

形容词语或歌声非常优美，如同珍珠般璀璨夺目。

Describes words or singing as very beautiful, like shining pearls.

Origin Story

话说唐朝诗人薛能，游历各地，结识不少歌女。一日，他来到一座繁华的城市，在一间酒楼听一位歌女演唱。歌女嗓音清脆甜美，歌声婉转悠扬，每个字都如珍珠般圆润，每个音符都如美玉般晶莹剔透，薛能听得如痴如醉，不禁挥笔写下诗句：“一字新声一颗珠，啭喉疑是击珊瑚。”歌女见诗人如此赞赏，也十分高兴，继续演唱，将一首歌曲演唱得淋漓尽致。从此，“一字一珠”便用来形容歌声或文字优美动听，如同珍珠般璀璨夺目。

huà shuō táng cháo shī rén xuē néng, yóu lì gè dì, jié shí bù shǎo gē nǚ. yī rì, tā lái dào yī zuò fán huá de chéng shì, zài yī jiān jiǔ lóu tīng yī wèi gē nǚ yǎn chàng. gē nǚ sǎng yīn qīng cuì tián měi, gē shēng wǎn zhuǎn yōu yáng, měi gè zì dōu rú zhēn zhū bān yuán rùn, měi gè yīn fú dōu rú měi yù bān jīng yíng tī tòu, xuē néng tīng de rú chī rú zuì, bù jīn huī bǐ xiě xià shī jù: “yī zì xīn shēng yī kē zhū, zhuàn hóu yí shì jī shān hú.” gē nǚ jiàn shī rén rú cǐ zàn shǎng, yě shí fēn gāo xìng, jì xù yǎn chàng, jiāng yī shǒu gē qǔ yǎn chàng de lín lí jì zhì. cóng cǐ, “yī zì yī zhū” biàn yòng lái xíng róng gē shēng huò wén zì yōu měi dòng tīng, rú tóng zhēn zhū bān cuǐ càn duó mù.

It is said that during the Tang Dynasty, the poet Xue Neng traveled extensively and met many female singers. One day, he came to a bustling city and listened to a female singer performing in a tavern. The singer had a clear and sweet voice, her singing was melodious and graceful, each word was as round as a pearl, each note as crystal clear as a gem. Xue Neng was enthralled, and could not help writing the verses: "One word, a new sound, a pearl, her throat seemed to strike coral." Seeing the poet's appreciation, the singer was delighted and continued to perform, singing the song to perfection. From then on, "Yi Zi Yi Zhu" was used to describe the beauty of singing or writing, as bright as pearls.

Usage

用于形容诗歌、文章或歌声的优美、精妙。

yòng yú xíng róng shī gē, wén zhāng huò gē shēng de yōu měi, jīng miào

Used to describe the beauty and exquisiteness of poems, articles or singing.

Examples

• 他的诗歌，每一字都像一颗珍珠，精美绝伦。

  tā de shī gē, měi yī zì dōu xiàng yī kē zhēn zhū, jīng měi jué lún

  Each word of his poem is like a pearl, exquisite.

• 这篇文章辞藻华丽，堪称一字一珠。

  zhè piān wén zhāng cí zǎo huá lì, kān chēng yī zì yī zhū

  This article is beautifully written, each word is like a pearl.

Related Idioms

• 珠光宝气

• 字字珠玑

Opposite Idioms

• 粗俗

• 庸俗